Tom Hiddleston, left, and Chris Hemsworth in a scene from “Thor: The Dark World.”

Associated Press/Walt Disney Studios/Marvel

This week at the multiplex, we’ve got the God of Thunder (“Thor: The Dark World,” starring Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman) and a time-traveling romantic (“About Time,” starring Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams), and the Oscar hopeful “12 Years a Slave,” starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender. Find out what the critics have to say on Rotten Tomatoes.

“Thor: The Dark World”

With a half-dozen movie franchises and a network TV series, the “Avengers” ecosystem has been a commercial juggernaught for Marvel, though one could be forgiven for wondering if the brand is a bit over-extended. Thankfully, critics say “Thor: The Dark World” is a rock-solid entry in Marvel’s cinematic canon, with enough muscular thrills and goofy humor to compensate for its occasionally confusing plot. This time out, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) must stop an ancient race called the Dark Elves from plunging the cosmos into darkness. Things get personal when one of the elves inhabits the body of Thor’s sweetheart Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), and he’s forced to team up with his untrustworthy brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in order to save the universe. “Thor: The Dark World” is currently at 70 percent on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer; check out some of the reviews here:

Fresh: “‘Thor: The Dark World’ hammers the original to a pulp and is thunderous fun, and if it leaves you with anything, it’s a reminder what behemoth commercial properties Marvel and Disney have on their hands.” — Justin Craig, FoxNews.com

Fresh: “Hiddleston’s villainous asides steal the show, and he brightens ‘The Dark World’ when it needs it most.” — Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

Fresh: “With all the death and destruction going on, there’s still time for the kind of light humor that has helped distinguish films based on Marvel Comics characters.” — Rick Bentley, Fresno Bee

Rotten: “It’s like the Disney/Marvel machine has worked up such a giant head of steam releasing comic book movies that nobody has bothered to notice that some of the movies aren’t very good.” – Tony Hicks, San Jose Mercury News

“About Time”

Just because a romantic comedy is saccharine, schmaltzy, and predictable doesn’t mean it won’t turn audiences’ hearts to mush. Critics say that’s the case with “About Time,” an overly sentimental but often sweet and poignant charmer from “Love Actually” director Richard Curtis. Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) is a single guy who learns from his father that he has the ability to travel back in time to change his fate. However, when he utilizes his strange gift to woo Mary (Rachel McAdams), he discovers that other aspects of his life don’t quite line up the way he’d like them to. “About Time” is currently at 65 percent on the Tomatometer; here’s a rundown of the reviews:

Fresh: “Gleeson and McAdams have a radiant, believable chemistry that keeps the film aloft, while the other actors glide through effortlessly.” — Leslie Felperin, Variety

Fresh: “A mostly charming romance, leavened by deft comedy, interesting sidelights (there are a few wonderful jabs at the world of the British theater) and a lovely cast.” — Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

Rotten: “‘About Time’ is like a sermon that starts with a few good jokes and ends with tremulous exhortations to live, live.” — David Edelstein, New York Magazine

Rotten: “By the time you get home from the multiplex, it will be as if the whole thing never happened.” — A.O. Scott, New York Times

“12 Years a Slave”

After winning raves in limited release, “12 Years a Slave” goes wide this week, and critics say it’s arguably the most powerful cinematic depiction of slavery ever captured on film. Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Solomon Northup, a free man who’s kidnapped and sold into slavery; he quickly learns that in order to survive, he must suppress his identity and keep his head down while periodically enduring a series of painful and dehumanizing punishments. “12 Years a Slave” is Certified Fresh at 96 percent on the Tomatometer; here’s what some of the critics are saying:

Fresh: “It seems certain to transcend the movie realm and become a new reference point in contemporary culture-a defining vision of what slavery looked like, and felt like, in the U.S. before the Civil War.” — Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

Fresh: “’12 Years a Slave’ is easily the greatest feature film ever made about American slavery.” — David Denby, New Yorker

Fresh: “Slavery here is not only a great moral darkness but a sweeping canvas for depicting the emotional deformities of the people who enforced and exploited the practice.” – J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

Rotten: “Aside from a characteristically nuanced lead performance by Chiwetel Ejiofor… it’s a picture that stays more than a few safe steps away from anything so dangerous as raw feeling.” — Stephanie Zacharek, Village Voice

About Speakeasy

Speakeasy is a blog covering media, entertainment, celebrity and the arts. The publication is produced by Barbara Chai and Jonathan Welsh with contributions from the Wall Street Journal staff and others. Write to us at speakeasy@wsj.com or follow us on Twitter at @WSJSpeakeasy or individually @barbarachai.